Chapter 101

Present – Jens – In the tunnels

It's a good thing Mabel is a fast learner because we sure need the extra firepower! And Todd is kicking ass - in fact, I think this is the first time I've ever seen him use a rifle and he's impressive! No, it's more than that ... It's like he's a shooting machine!

Mabel yells, "I love this little rifle! I thought it would hurt my shoulder."

I yell back, "That's the nice thing about these, they don't kick but they also don't stop tangos as well as bigger rifles!"

She remarks, "I just put the little red dot on the target and fire. I think that you could teach a monkey how to do that."

I didn't want to tell her, but she was probably right.

Then something else really bad happens...

Present – Todd – In the tunnels

There is a time for everything and while I prefer my bow, when the arrows are gone, (even though I carry more than most people, once they are out I cannot resupply) it's time for an alternate. I take one of the M-4s that Mabel brings back, SPORT it and begin firing double-taps. Head and heart, head and heart, head and heart – 15 double-taps later, I drop the mag and slap home a new one.

There's enough dead right now that they have created a slight barrier which is good, but then something worse happens and a large group pushes through the dead body barrier. I flip the M4 to auto and start firing bursts...

Present – Glen – At the cabin

We start running down the hill toward the cabin and I order, "Linus, you and half the men take the workshop."

He orders, "Form on me and try to keep up."

The snipers chase all the bastards into the cabin so when we get closer to the cabin they start firing out of what use to be the windows. The snipers figure that out and start giving them the shit they fucking deserve! They bastards change tactics and stay behind cover but stick their rifles through the windows and spray randomly.

I glance over and see a soldier with a M-32MGL.¹ I like the hell out of it and question, "Do have CS² rounds for that?"

¹ M-32MGL – A revolver style six shot 40mm grenade launcher which replaces the M203.

² CS – Tear Gas

He responds, "Right now I have HE³ rounds loaded but I can fix that."

³ HE – High Explosive

I order, "Well I don't want to blow the hell out of my daughter's cabin so gas the crap out of them." Damn is he fucking good! He doesn't even slow up, switches loads on the M-32 and begins pumping tear gas rounds through the missing windows.

The gas has the effect we want as some of the bastards start boiling out the missing front door. I don't even have to issue any order because we're so pissed and there's so damn many of us the bastards are shot to pieces before they even fall to the ground.

We're almost to the doorway. I watch as my Marines pie the door in record time then Hammer flies through the door swinging his Claymore and yelling, "It's Hammer time."

We storm in right behind him but by the time we get in the cabin, there's not much left for us to do other than clear the rooms.

Then a Marine runs in and gives me a bad report, "Sir they are having a hell of a time at the workshop."

I look at my men and order, "Half form a perimeter around the cabin, the other half head to the workshop to provide help."

Present – Linus – At the workshop

Glen does a hell of a job containing the bastards at the cabin so when we fly past it we take very little fire. However things change as we get closer to the workshop where we run into some serious fire power.

Maria says, "Damn, these fuckers are serious!"

I answer, "I don't know how many of the bastards are in the workshop, but they have the high ground and we don't have much in the way of cover."

Then we see something that will more than even the odds! Now who the hell brought one of those along???

Present – Jack – In the tunnels

How many of these fuckers do they have in the workshop? It seems endless and our ammo is starting to run low. I look at Liz and get ready to order her to go get some more mags when Zarika runs up pushing a little cart. The cart has a duffle bag full of rifles and two duffle bags full of mags. I greet her, "Zarika that is perfect timing!"

She immediately asks, "Where's Yasmeen?"

I hate to tell her but she deserves the truth. I respond, "She's been wounded. She's behind the table with my wife and son."

I watch in amazement as Zarika becomes some sort of maniac killing machine, then I realize she has the perfect weapon for us right now.

Then I open the weapon duffle bag, switch rifles and yell, "It's time to rock and roll!"

Present – Zarika – In the tunnels

I can not believe that Yasmeen has been wounded! I have failed at my duty of first wife and I need to repair that situation immediately.

I fire like crazy at the evil men with this special rifle that fires very fast and run toward the table. I must help Yasmeen!!!

Present – Masha – In the tunnels

I hear multiple machine guns and increase my worry. If our enemies have brought more firepower then we will be over run. I rise and see Zarika has a squad automatic weapon, is firing at the doorway and running toward me. And my loving husband also has a squad automatic weapon and has it trained on the doorway and is firing in more controlled bursts.

I look and confirm Ivan is doing his job and has plugged his ears with his fingers (like I have instructed him).

Zarika arrives and I caution, "Be careful little one, Yasmeen is right behind the table."

She jumps over the table and demands, "I want to see Yasmeen!"

I order, "Then give me your squad automatic weapon."

I take the SAW and begin to assist my Jack...

Present – Zarika – In the tunnels

I try to move Ivan out of the way but he fights me, "Mama tell me sit here!"

I feel for a pulse but I can not feel one ... Yasmeen is dead and I have failed miserably as Ben's first wife.

I begin to wail, then Masha comforts me, "Do not cry little one Yasmeen is not dead."

I counter, "But she has no pulse."

Masha replies, "Yes, I gave her a drug to place her in a coma because I did not have a medkit to further treat her injury."

I state, "I will go find a medkit for you and bring it back."

I jump back over the table and head toward the hallway...

Present – Jack – In the tunnels

What the hell! Zarika is running back toward me, does she have some sort of death wish? I hold down the trigger on the SAW and it keeps her covered until she gets beside me. I stop her and question, "What the hell are you doing?"

She yanks her arm out of my hand and says, "I need to get a medkit for Yasmeen."

I order, "Well while you're at it bring back more ammo for this SAW."

She nods, takes off and I begin firing bursts again. for a short time things get remarkably quiet until! What the fuck is that! God Damn!!!

Present – Alexi, Mira and Ira– At the fertility clinic

The fertility doctor's ID card gives us access to the clinic, we walk inside to find there are a few persons around and Ira reminds the doctor, "If you value your life you will not cause an alarm."

I add, "And if you value your Bentley you would be wise to follow our instructions."

Mira questions, "Alexi, how will you proceed with the investigation."

I state, "We will need to access the security camera videos and also the employee database."

The doctor asks, "Of what use is the employee database."

I inform him, "I plan on acquiring the bank account information of each employee."

Mira remarks, "Yes, that is most wise my brother, 'hunt the trail of money'."

I correct her, "It is 'follow the money trail'. Someone had to fiscally profit from this so called mistake."

The doctor states, "I am not sure I have access to the employee database."

I smile and suggest, "Let us retire to your office and we will discover if you have sufficient privilege..."

I am still gravely bothered that the fetus was Nubian. Something about it haunts the recesses of my cranial carapace. I glance at Irinka and she questions, "Mirinka what troubles you?"

I reply in our special language, "Irinka, the factoid the fetus was Nubian is most troubling."

Irinka's eyes flicker and we simultaneously exclaim, "It was him!"

I swear, "Male offspring of female saluki! I should have not looked this gift equine in the mandibles."

Alexi questions, "My sister's what do you mean?"

Present – Ben – Austin Texas

I'm happy as hell to be leaving all this damn bullshit! That is until I reach the janitor's room in the basement. I open the door ... And I can't fucking believe it ... There staring me in the face is ... Rex the Texas Ranger! He's the one who persuaded me to join the Marines so many damn years ago. Behind him are the janitor, Margarita and the damn little dog.

The janitor shrugs his shoulders and says, "Sorry Pavel, but it looks like you've been caught."

I grin at Rex and say, "How the hell have you been?"

He smiles back and says, "I should have known the damn Austin Avenger was you and I sure as hell wouldn't have wasted so much time trying to find 'him' if you had just told me you were in town."

The janitor looks surprised and asks, "You two know each other?"

Rex replies, "He'll do to ride the river with⁴."

⁴ The highest compliment a man could receive in the Old West. This was a tribute from the old trail days when only the fearless dared to swim herds across treacherous rivers. If a life-threatening mishap occurred in the crossing, the help of the nearest cowboy would be the difference between life and death.

I smile and reply, "A Ranger like Rex is about as rare as rocking horse shit."

Rex laughs, "Now that's a new one to add to my repertoire. By the way, is it Pavel now? I sure don't think much of your janitor friend; he's lower than a snake's belly."

I shake my head, glare at the janitor and demand, "What the hell do you mean?"

Rex laughs, "Don't tell me you tied one on last night. Shit, I spent all night looking for you and you went drinking."

I counter, "Hey, I played a little music and I only had two beers."

Rex continues, "Yeah but that was probably in dog beers."

I laugh, "Dog beers, is that like dog years? So tell me about this yellow-bellied janitor?"

He points his thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of the janitor and says, "Well, he's been selling you out to someone. We ain't sure who but we're looking into it for you."

The janitor swears, "You bastard." Then he pulls a knife but he is a bit too slow. My Ka-Bar flies through the air, as Rex ducks and my Ka-Bar nails the bastard janitor in the hand. The janitor is jumping around and swearing up a blue streak until he sees Rex's six shooter is out, aimed at his head while he pledges, "Just twitch one more time to give me a reason to blow your sorry ass away."

The janitor freezes and I taunt, "Damn Rex, you're getting a little slow in your old age."

He explains, "Nah, I was giving him a fighting chance! But now he's going back in the hoosegow where he belongs."

I nod my head towards Margarita and ask, "Has she been selling me out too?"

Rex shakes his head, "Nope, she's just had a run of bad luck like all the Russians they brought over here for this performance."

I could see hope in Margarita's eyes but with what Rex told me about the janitor I knew my time in Austin was coming to a close. I walk over, take her hands and say in Russian, "Margarita, I have more people chasing me than a Russian mobster. While I would love to stay I have to leave."

I watch as her face transforms, she slaps the hell out of me and yells, "Mудак." and storms out of the room.

Rex laughs and comments, "Well I don't know much Russian but 'bastard' seems to sound the same in all languages. It seems you still have a way with the ladies."

I walk over, take my knife out of the bastard janitor's hand, wipe the bloody blade on his shirt and say, "Well I guess I'd better get my ass out of here before whomever this bastard sold me out to shows up."

Rex questions, "You still got some of them mooslim's looking for you?"

I nod my head, "Yeah, they're never going to give up until I kill them or they kill me."

He repeats one of my favorite quotes, "Watch your topknot."

I reply with Jeremiah Johnson's response, "Yep, watch your'n." I grab my gear and hit the road...